Parliament

Fluoridation Questions Asked by Earl Baldwin of Bewdley To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Baroness Thornton on 4 March 2010 (WA 372) and by Earl Howe on 26 October 2010 (WA 257), what progress has been made in revising the guidance to the National Health Service by the chief dental officer on the scientific evidence surrounding the fluoridation of water.[HL3767] The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): We have just completed a consultation on the new regulations on fluoridation, which will come into force on the 1 April 2013. The chief dental officer will then work with Public Health England on guidance on the implementation of the regulations including an update of the scientific evidence surrounding fluoridation. 12 Dec 2012 : Column WA231 Asked by Earl Baldwin of Bewdley To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Earl Howe on 25 June (WA 17) and 16 July (WA 4), whether members of the bodies listed on the website of the British Fluoridation Society as campaigners for water fluoridation under the National Alliance for Equity in Dental Health will be required to declare their affiliations when participating in decisions about fluoridation schemes.[HL3768] Earl Howe: We agree that decision-making on fluoridation should be reached through a transparent process which commands public confidence. We are sympathetic to this suggestion, and will consider it in preparing guidance on implementation of the regulations on consultations about fluoridation schemes. We will consult interested parties, including the noble Earl, on a draft of the guidance.